B: Today, we’ll brief you on some of the best answers to question 5, an open question about listeners’ first impression of Vietnam.

Foreigners and Vietnamese children (Photo: vntour.com.vn)

A: We received many outstanding, impressive answers to this question because it was an open question. Some listeners picked two events, characters and two things while many others listed a series of things, events, and characters that they are impressed with.

B: Many listeners analyze in-depth their choices while many others share their emotion and affection for Vietnamese land, people, history, and culture.

A: Whatever their choices are or their different ways of telling the stories, there is a common denominator in all the answers – love for Vietnam.

Photo: Vietluhanh

B: Writing about President Ho Chi Minh, listeners showed their respect and admiration at the highest level. Xue Fei of China, a listener of the Chinese Service wrote: “When talking about Vietnam, we can’t help talking about beloved leader Ho Chi Minh. President Ho Chi Minh is respected by not only Vietnamese people but by peoples around the world. People around the world talk about Vietnam-Ho Chi Minh with respect and admiration.”

A: Kurita Toshiki of Japan, a listener of the Japanese service said: “In the world heritage program, where I saw Ha Long Bay, I could not believe in my eyes, the feeling was like a shock at how beautiful and magnificent your country is. Everywhere is green with beautiful and amazing islets”. It’s so beautiful that I immediately included it in my must-see list before I die”.

Vietnamese milk coffee vntour.com.vn

B: From another perspective, Rudi Hartono of Indonesia, a listener of the Indonesian service wrote: “Writing about Vietnam is always a honor for me, a loyal listener of the Voice of Vietnam for the last 32 years. Vietnam is a beautiful, peaceful, and developing country. Vietnam’s beauty inspires my curiosity. I visited Vietnam and had an interesting experience there. I’ve visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city twice. I always dream of returning to Vietnam.”

A: Sergey Afanasyev of Ukraine, a listener of the Russian Service wrote “I want to know as much as possible about Vietnam. Every evening after work, I watch blog videos on Youtube featuring your wonderful country. I was amazed at the natural beauty and landscape of your country. I have learned many interesting things that I’ve never thought of. Literally, I love Vietnam more each day.”

B: Paul Jamet of France, a listener of the French Service wrote: “Your country has developed constantly. In Vietnam, traditional and modern values are intertwined and co-exist. In my personal opinion, this is what creates your success today.”

Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho (Photo: vntour.com.vn)

A: There are many more interesting, impressive stories about Vietnam that VOV listeners shared with us. Once again, thank you very much for tuning in to our broadcast and sharing your love for Vietnam with us. Thank you.

A: This week, many listeners said they want to learn more about Vietnamese festivals and asked whether any festivals are held at this time of year.

B: A festival for Vietnamese Mother Goddess worshipping was held in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai last month, drawing large crowds.

The Mother Goddess of Forest worshipping practice

A: Honoring the Mother Goddess of Forest worshipping practice, the event took place at the local Dong Cuong temple, known as the birthplace of Mother Goddess Worship Practice.

B: The festival featured the practice of “len dong” (going into a trance), a carnival recreating the Mother Goddess, and an exhibition of photos and paintings depicting the practice, and folk games and sport competitions.

A: In Vietnamese people’s beliefs The Mother Goddess of Forest is among the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms who look after heaven, water, mountains and forests.

B: Vietnamese Mother Goddess worshipping was officially recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in late 2016. The Beliefs in Mother Goddesses of Three Realms has been practiced in northern mountainous provinces across the nation since the 16th century.

A: The practitioners are comprised of temple guardians, ritual priests, spirit mediums, mediums’ assistants, musicians who perform the songs for the spirits, disciples and lay adherents; all sharing the same beliefs in spiritual power, supernatural strength and protection of the Mother Goddess spirit pantheon.

B: The practitioners form groups who worship together, take part in traditional festivals and perform spirit possession rituals at temples and palaces dedicated to Mother Goddesses

A: At this time of the year, while the COVID-19 pandemic is basically contained in Vietnam, many cultural activities are being held in localities nationwide to attract visitors and revive the tourism industry. Disease prevention measures are still implemented in a strict manner with people wearing masks in public places and hygiene being ensured.

B: In an email to VOV this week, Siddhartha Bhattacharjee of India asked about e-commerce in Vietnam.

A: Vietnam’s e-commerce grew 32% last year and has averaged 30 percent annual growth since 2016, according to a recent report by the Vietnam e-Commerce Association (VECOM). Retail sales of goods and services online totalled 11.5 billion USD in 2019.

B: The e-commerce sector is forecast to grow more than 30% again this year to exceed 15 billion USD. The market size is forecast to hit 43 billion USD by 2025, ranking third in Southeast Asia, according to earlier forecasts of Google, Temasek and Bain&Company.

A: A recent report released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade suggests that e-commerce revenue may climb 20% in the last quarter of the year to reach 12 billion USD by the year’s end, if COVID-19 is kept under control.

B: In May, the Government approved a national e-commerce development master plan for 2021-2025, targeting an annual industry growth of 25% with more than half of population shopping online and spending about 600 USD per person per year by 2025.

A: According to a report from Google, Temasek and Bain & Company, social distancing induced shoppers to the internet. Many people have now tried new digital services for shopping, transportation and food delivery, travel, media, financial services, health care, and education.

B: VOV, too, encourages our listeners to check out our digital platforms to listen to VOV broadcasts. Check out our VOV Media App, available on both the IOS and Android platform, to hear our live broadcasts. You’re invited to visit us online at vovworld.vn, where you can hear both live and recorded programs.

A: We always welcome your feedback at: English Service, VOVworld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at: englishsection@vov.vn. Thank you all for listening.